Healthcare professionals and members of the community will come together at Indiana University Northwest to discuss Best Practices in Eliminating Disparities in Healthcare on the morning of Friday, Oct. 29 in the Savannah Center Auditorium.

The featured speaker for the School of Nursing’s, Mary Mahoney Lecture Series will be Cynthia Boyd, Ph.D., RN, FANN, who is the assistant dean for community initiatives in the College of Nursing at University of Illinois-Chicago. She will discuss her work in addressing the social and cultural contributors to health disparities, service utilization barriers, cultural alienation and health problems of importance to racioethnic groups. She has dedicated her career to improving access to healthcare by underrepresented groups. She has published, consulted and lectured nationally and internationally on issues related to health, post-neonatal mortality and management. Boyd is nationally recognized for her work with organizations in the areas of cultural competency and work force diversity.

The event will also introduce the new Dean of the system-wide Indiana University School of Nursing. Marion Broome, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, began in her new role this past July. In addition, Broome is a professor in the school’s Department of Family Health. She is widely regarded as an expert, scholar and leader in pediatric nursing research and practice.

The Mary Mahoney Lecture Series is funded by the IU Office of the Vice President for Student Development and Diversity, and promotes education on the history and traditions of the nursing profession. It also provides information on the accomplishments of minority leaders in the profession who helped shape it. The series itself was named for the first African American woman who graduated from a school of nursing in the United States. Born in Boston in 1845, Mary Eliza Mahoney is hailed for her courage in thwarting racial bias.

She changed the face of nursing when after her graduation Black students began to be accepted into nursing schools. She was known for her excellent nursing skills and professionalism, along with her ability to inspire others to work together for human rights.

"Being able to educate and generate dialogue with health care professionals and the community through the Mary Mahoney Lectures Series is very much a part of the university’s Shared Vision and its commitment to community. The vision of individuals like Mary Mahoney serves as reminder that people must work together to make a difference," says Linda Rooda, Ph.D., dean of Nursing and Health Professions at IU Northwest. "I am very proud to be a part of this wonderful dialogue between campus and community."

The event will begin with coffee and registration from 8 to 9 a.m. followed by School of Nursing 90th anniversary presentation, introduction of Dean Broome and a student question and answer session. The morning will close with a presentation by the featured speaker. For more information about the event, please call the School of Nursing and Health Professions at IU Northwest at(219) 980-6600.